September 21st, 2010
10:40 AM ET

Vatican Bank investigated over money laundering allegations

Italian authorities are investigating the Vatican Bank over possible violations of money laundering regulations, the Bank of Italy told CNN Tuesday.

Another Italian bank alerted Bank of Italy investigators to two Vatican Bank transactions that did not appear to comply with anti-money laundering requirements, the Bank of Italy said.

When Bank of Italy investigators told legal authorities about the transactions, they were told that judicial authorities were already investigating the Vatican Bank, the Bank of Italy said.

The Vatican said Tuesday it is "perplexed and baffled" by the public prosecutor's actions, and that the Holy See aims for "complete transparency" in its financial operations.

FULL STORY

Post by:
Filed under: Vatican
soundoff (155 Responses)
  1. MToussaint

    The irony is that priests should know the punishment for molestation, greed, and other sins in an eternity in the boiling fires and brimstone of hell...yet they still do it time and time again. That tells me that they don't believe that heaven / hell rubbish any more than I do. I am certain that none of the church leaders actually "believe" in anything and their only concern is holding on to the wealth and power that their trappings afford them as the royalty of Catholicism.

    September 21, 2010 at 11:42 am | Report abuse |
  2. epgomez

    Any organizations have some bad leaders. It happens to everybody. Don't tell me that the US has some bad leaders that you don't want to be an american anymore. Hypocrites!

    September 21, 2010 at 11:42 am | Report abuse |
    • GWOZWAZ

      You want MY money, you want MY faith, you want to educate MY children??? Your leaders better be as holy as Jesus himself not crooks and molesters. Rediculous...

      September 21, 2010 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
    • epgomez

      So tell me who is perfect?

      September 21, 2010 at 11:56 am | Report abuse |
    • CD_FL

      No, because after 4 years you have the right to vote them out the office. You can't do that with the Pope.

      September 21, 2010 at 12:05 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Dave

    The End of False Religion is very, very near........Very soon world political powers will grow tire of The Great Harlot – the world empire of false religion, and will "eat her fleshly parts and burn her completely with fire".

    September 21, 2010 at 11:44 am | Report abuse |
  4. M Trought

    Why doesnt this surprise me.

    September 21, 2010 at 11:46 am | Report abuse |
    • J

      You were in on it?

      September 21, 2010 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
  5. jeremie

    The Vatican much like the Fed should be audited and with regularity. I'd like to know how the vatican attained so much wealth yet asks other to take a poverty pledge. I hope this escalates to the Vatican as a whole. The Vaticans fortune is so enormous if could feed, cloth, and shelter every human being on earth. If they're such "godly" people why don't they?

    September 21, 2010 at 11:47 am | Report abuse |
  6. Chris Strunk

    Not the first time money laundering by the Vatican Banl was in Court. Remmebr Franklin National Bank / Black Friars Bridge / P-2 Lodge / Mike Sindona / Card Marchinkis out of Chicago using drugs sales proceeds. What goes around comes around folks.

    September 21, 2010 at 11:47 am | Report abuse |
  7. Dave

    The End of False Religion is very, very near........Very soon world political powers will grow tire of The Great Harlot – the world empire of false religion, and will "eat her fleshly parts and burn her completely with fire".

    September 21, 2010 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
    • J

      You are joking, right? I honestly can't believe I wasted time commenting on your post.

      Dave, the global problems of this world are rooted in many other factors besides religion. Factors such as race, culture, and the acquisition of power cannot be ignored. Don't delude yourself into thinking world leaders are going to "band together" like the comic book superheroes your read about every night.

      September 21, 2010 at 11:56 am | Report abuse |
  8. JoeC

    This would not be the first time the Vatican has been engulfed in a bank scanal. Remember Michel Sindona and Archbishop Marcinkus who fled the Vatican into U.S. exile to avoid prosecution? The Vatican sets an example for getting away with greed and crime for anyone other dictator looking for a get-rich scheme. For shame. What would Christ say of the things the Catholic Church does in his name?

    September 21, 2010 at 11:50 am | Report abuse |
  9. Sybaris

    Organized Religion a.k.a. Organized Crime

    September 21, 2010 at 11:50 am | Report abuse |
    • TRUTH

      a.k.a. Organized Kid Touchers

      September 21, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Popess Palin

    religion is for poor, uneducated, largely unsuccessful people

    September 21, 2010 at 11:50 am | Report abuse |
  11. Joe M

    God gave the responsibility to parents, dads and moms to protect and take care of their children.

    If parents neglect their role and delegate the responsibility to someone else, who is to blame.

    September 21, 2010 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
  12. Nick

    "...two Vatican Bank transactions that did not appear to comply with anti-money laundering requirements." Big deal, it sounds like they forgot to dot an i or cross a t. Investigations happen everyday and most of them are just mistakes. This is only news because it's the Vatican. Everyone is so quick to jump on the anti-Catholic bandwagon, why don't we wait until we have some more details...or any details at all for that matter!

    September 21, 2010 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
  13. GOD

    Religion is always goin to be false. God may exist but all these scandalous cults are the problems of everyday life. Its ALL A LIE.

    September 21, 2010 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
  14. gee

    Vatican has God's approval to do whatever they want.. don't believe it? me2

    September 21, 2010 at 11:54 am | Report abuse |
  15. David J Bhaltatzhar Esq

    Pig Roast coming up, please stay tuned!

    September 21, 2010 at 11:55 am | Report abuse |
    • Patricia A Jublikhan PC

      David, you are a genius!
      XOXO,
      Patti

      September 21, 2010 at 11:58 am | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6